Challenges faced by blood transfusion services in a tertiary care centre for recruitment of convalescent plasma donors for COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The transfusion of convalescent blood products is an age old therapy in emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Convalescent plasma works on the principle of passive immunotherapy and Viral Neutralization. In the Current pandemic of corona virus disease (COVID-19), convalescent plasma transfusions can have therapeutic role as there is no specific preventative and therapeutic options. This study was done to see the challenges faced by blood transfusion services for recruitment of plasma donors. Methods: The retrospective study included challenges faced by blood transfusion services in recruiting Donors for convalescent plasma for COVID-19 and strategies followed for improving the donation at SMS Medical College and Hospital from April 2020 to October 2020. Results: This study evaluated challenges faced to recruit the recently recovered COVID-19 patients as donors, Setting up of plasmapheresis capacity, Role of social media in recruitment of Convalescent plasma donors, Financial aspects associated with Convalescent plasma donation, Role of NGOs in recruitment of donors and Success achieved in organization of donor mobilization and plasma collection. Conclusions: Recruitment of Convalescent Plasma donor from COVID-19 recovered patients is a big challenge for blood transfusion services. Different strategies to motivate donors should be implemented such as personnel communication, advertisement via classical mass media like radio, poster, newspaper and online media.